Reciprocating bulldozer blade



Nov. 12, 196s E. c. THARP- 3,410,352

RECIPROCATING `BULLDOZER BLADE Filed July 20. 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 VW' Il. /2 26 f2' W u uw u' 11,' u u' l'inim W il M411 l 1MM l IN V EN TOR.

Www-ys' Nov. 12, 1968 E. c. THARP 3,410,352

REC I PROCAT ING BULLDOZER BLADE Q O O e O y l Q Q a o o INVENTOR.

Q L {MFM/6 72m?? ,d farla/f United States Patent O 3,410,352 RECIPROCATING BULLDOZER BLADE Emery C. Tharp, 430 Powell St., Indianapolis, Ind. 46227 Filed July 20, 1965, Ser. No. 473,440 Claims. (Cl. 172-40) ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLOSURE A reciprocating bulldozer blade that is operable by a power unit that provides reciprocating motion to the blade. The blade is attached by a telescoping bar which is movable in a frame bar land necessary linkages, so that the stroke of the blade may be changed by changing the cam arrangement in the linkage and the `apparatus provides improved excavation of the load to which the bulldozer blade is applied.

The present invention relates to an improved reciprocating bulldozer blade assembly, and more particularly relates to providing pneumatically, hydraulically, or electrically operable power unit that provides power transmitted through shafts to a crank linkage that provides reciprocating motion to a tractor blade, and in which control is automatic or manual. The blade is attached to a teloscoping bar which is movable in a frame bar, and by attending linkages, the stroke of the blade may be changed by changing the can arrangement in the linkage so that the apparatus provides improved excavation of the load to which the bulldozer blade is applied.

It is also within a contemplation of the present inventtion to angle the control, the attitude at which the blade is inclinded to the load to which it is applied, so that improved action and control of the blade is provided.

A further and additional object of the invention is to provide a frame construction for a blade attached to the tractor for providing increased control and regulation of the reciprocating blade as it is applied to the dirt or lill, or other load, whether the blade is controlled by a sepa` rate power unit controlled mechanically from a pneumatic, hydraulically, or electrical power unit.

The above, other and additional objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent upon full consideration of the following detailed ydescription and accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan of elevation view showing the reciprocating bulldozer blade assembly for connection to a tractor in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 shows a side elevation View of FIGURE 1 in which the telescopic construction of the frame assembly is shown.

FIGURE 3 is a generally rearward perspective view of a reciprocating bulldozer blade assembly in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention, and

FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 4 4 of FIGURE 1.

Referring now to the drawings, there is shown a tractor or bulldozer on which are disposed a pair or set of hollow frame elements 12-14 forwardly extending from a pivotal mounting pin 16 on the bulldozer 10, and a cross frame 18 connecting the free ends of the hollow frame elements 12, 14.

The free end of the hollow frame and cross frame assembly 12, 14, 18 is supported from ya piston-cylinder assembly 22, 24 which is pivotally mounted by a pin 26 from the tractor 10 and -which has the movable or piston rod end 28 thereof used for providing support and control to the free end of the hollow frame elements 12, 14 by ice connecting rods 30, 32. Thus as the movable trod of the piston, cylinder -assembly 24 moves the pin 28 along a given path, the hollow Ifra-me elements and the cross frame connecting the ends thereof is seen to be raised and lowered accordingly.

From the cross frame 18 connecting the free ends of the Ihollow frame elements 12, 14 there is mounted a gear reducer means 38 which may be driven by prime mover (not shown) but is driven therefrom by pipe connection 40 connected thereto as shown in FIGURE 3, the gear reducer being mounted from a bracket connected to the cross frame 18.

Extending from the hollow frame elements are telescopically engaging blade mounting frame elements 42, 44 that Ifreely move within and without of the hollow frame elements 12, 14 respectively. From the forward end of the telescopically engaging mounting frame elements 42, 44 there is a cutter blade 46 for the bulldozer 10 and is a conventional construction.

From the rear of each end of the blade 46 there is a pivotal connection 52, 54 as shown in FIGURES 1 and 2 .and more in detail in FIGURE 4 which receives a link 58, 60 respectively and is mounted to the pivotal -means 54 Iby a clevis pin 64, 64.

The other end of the links 58, 60 contain a large opening for receiving an eccentrically `driven cam 68, 70 in which there is received a driving shaft 72, 72 which is driven from the gear reducer means 38 by a chain drive 74.

By actuation of the Vgear reducer tmeans 38 from the prime mover (not shown) the primer mover causes the shaft 72 to be Idriven in either of two directions for turning the cam 70 so that the link 60 having the pin 64 is driven in an oscillatory or reciprocating manner to and fro as shown in FIGURE 4 and schematically shown in FIGURE 2, so that the blade 46 accordingly is also reciprocated forward and backward.

There is provided therefore by the foregoing structural assembly a mechanism consisting of a gear reducer 38 which is driven by a separate power unit or prime mover by an engine that may be mounted on a trailer connected to the bulldozer, from which power is transmitted through a shaft or coupling means to the gear reducer means 38 which in turn drives a shaft 72 mounted on and between a pair of pillow blocks 80, on the cross frame 18, the shaft 72, 72 turning an eccentric cam 70 secured to said shaft 72 by a key 82 as shown in FIGURE 4, which in turn reciprocates the link 60 so that the end of the link 60 connected to the blade by end 64 causes the blade to reciprocate since it is telescopically mounted by a telescopic frame assembly 12, 14 and 42, 44 respectively. Thus the motion imparted to the blade is of a reciprocating character, and may be controlled either automatically or manually. The stroke of the blade along the reciprocating path may be adjiusted or changed by varying the dimensions of the eccentric cam by replacement of other eccentric cams for the eccentric cams 68, 70 of corresponding modified dimensions and characteristics so that variations in reciprocating the values of the blade is achieved. The method of reciprocating the blade is in no way limited to the action of mechanical means, and it may be accordingly driven by other reducer means or follow-up and servo-means whether they are pneumatically, hydraulically or electrically driven and energized.

Additional embodiments of the invention in this specification will occur to others and therefore it is intended that the scope of the invention be limited only by the appended claims and not by the embodiment described hereinabove. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following claims in determining the full scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A reciprocating bulldozer blade assembly compris ing hollow guide frame elements forwardly extending linearly from a pivot mounting on a bulldozer, a cross frame connecting the free ends of the hollow frame elements, longitudinally extending blade mounting frame elements telescopically engaging each of said hollow guide frame elements, a blade mounted forward of said blade mounting frame elements, and an eccentric carn and crank linkage assembly interposed between said blade and said cross frame and between Vsaid hollow guide frame elements exteriorly of the latter for reciprocating said blade as the crank linkage is caused to turn.

2. The invention according to claim 1 wherein a power unit is provided on said cross frame so that the power unit is connected to turn the eccentric cam and crank linkage assembly in reciprocating said blade of said bulldozer.

3. The invention according to claim 2 wherein the gear reducer means mounted on and from said cross frame provides control for actuating said eccentric cam and crank linkage assembly.

4. The invention according to claim 3 wherein a clevis pin is provided to couple the linkage assembly to the blade for coupling power to the blade in reciprocating it.

5. The invention according to claim 4 wherein a hydraulic piston and rod cylinder assembly supports and controls the attitude of the blade by raising and lowering the hollow guide frame elements as controlled from the operators position of said bulldozer.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,964,863 12/ 1960 Shepherd. 2,986,294 5/l961 Granryd 37--144 X 3,092,920 6/1963 Benno 37-117.5

FOREIGN PATENTS 710,650 6/1954 Great Britain.

ABRAHAM G. STONE, Primary Examiner.

A. E. KOPECKI, Assistant Examiner. 

